Examination hell

Summary

Examination hell refers to the period between January and March in Japanese society that sees students take important exams to progress onto the next stage of education. The term originated to describe the intensity of the Japanese examination system, but has since been applied to other countries, with students often needing to study for large amounts of time in order to be accepted into Japan's more prestigious schools. The system has been criticised for the high levels of pressure it puts on students to succeed, and the model of education it encourages.